LYNNFIELD — MarketStreet is back in business.
Many retailers across the state, including many at MarketStreet, have reopened their doors for the first time in more than three months since the state-ordered shutdown of non-essential businesses and services in March.
A statement posted on MarketStreet’s website thanked the public for “connecting with us virtually these past several weeks.
“We are beyond excited to begin welcoming you back to enjoy MarketStreet Lynnfield,” the statement said, which went on to caution that many businesses are operating in limited capacities with modified hours in some cases.
The warning didn’t dissuade anxious shoppers, who lined up in droves over the weekend, sometimes waiting for 20 to 30 minutes before being allowed inside the building to shop at places like Pottery Barn, Athleta, Williams Sonoma, The Nike Store, J. Jill Lululemon Athletica and The Gap.
Lines also formed at the AT&T and Verizon stores. Chase Bank is now offering in-store banking.
Restaurants also took advantage of the Phase 2 relaxed rules to provide outdoor, sit-down dining to their patrons. By Sunday, long lines of hungry diners were still spotted outside many establishments.
Wahlburgers opened for outdoor dining Saturday.
“It went great,” said General Manager Laura Scotino. “We had a great response from everyone and today (Sunday) has also gone really well. Everybody is so happy to be coming back out to eat. I’m hearing people saying they are thankful we are doing it right. We feel that as long as we treat people well and give them good food, they will continue to support us.”
The restaurant expanded its existing outdoor seating section of six tables, with the addition of approximately 16 new tables wrapped around the side of the building (separated by the social distancing six-foot mandate for outdoor dining) that stretched all the way down the sidewalk to the back of the building.
At the dinner-time crunch Saturday night, every one of those additional tables and the six tables normally in place in the front of the building were filled nearly to capacity.
Scotino said she is grateful to MarketStreet management for giving anyone who needed it extra space to expand their outdoor dining sections.
“MarketStreet gave us all extended patio space, then it was up to figure out the best way to set it up,” she said. “We still have to comply with regulations, like when using the bathroom to have one in and one out with masks, but overall, this weekend has been an eye-opening experience for us. We just want to do our best to give our diners a positive experience, and so far we are hearing we are.
“I have to credit MarketStreet for making it possible and I have so much thanks for allowing us to have an extended patio area. We’re not done yet as we still want to add things like flowers to make it pretty and help our guests feel comfortable coming out to dine with us.
Yard House, which also offers outdoor seating on a regular basis, expanded its outdoor footprint onto the sidewalk, adding several tables to better accommodate diners who filled the area to capacity Saturday and Sunday nights.
Directly across from Yard House, Mexican restaurant Temazcal, was also filled to capacity both nights.
A hot spot was in the corner area where Panera Bread, Otto Pizza, Oboloco and Starbucks are located with diners spilling onto the common area. With diners able to remove their face coverings upon being seated, it wouldn’t be a fair stretch for a passerby to forget about the fact that the nation is in the middle of a pandemic, even if just for a split second.
Another sign that there is light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel could be seen at the Apple Store, which had boarded up all of its windows after the City of Boston experienced looting and property damage following protests about the death of George Floyd, a Minneapolis man killed by a police man after allegedly being stopped regarding a $20 counterfeit bill.
The boarding was removed last week.
Lululemon, which also had erected protective boarding, recently removed most of its boarding except for that portion facing the main thoroughfare.
While wait lines were the rule rather than the exception, one Lynnfield woman wishing to remain anonymous, said her shopping experience was pleasant.
“I was able to walk right in without any delays and get the things I wanted,” she said. “I think you just have to go at the right time to avoid the crowds, kind of like at Christmas.”
